Disclaimer : I don't own Pretty Little Liars.
Spencer and Jason drove from Hicksville back to Rosewood without stopping anywhere. They wanted to be back on Rosewood by the time the others get home from school. They're picking them out and gathers at Spencer's house. Spencer tells all the information that she collected at the psychiatric hospital, and her plan to go camping on Friday.
From Spencer's house, Jason walked Aria to her home. These last few days since they are together, Jason always picked her up at school and walked her home. That's how they slip the time to be together more often.
Jason holds Aria's hand and stopped in front of Aria's home. "What is it? You've been quiet all the way here." Jason asked her, watching her.
Aria sighed and shook her head. She forces a smile on her face. "Nothing." Jason rolled his eyes on her, demanding an answer. "I was just thinking about Friday." Aria finally said.
Jason is putting his hand on her lower back and rubbing her softly. "You don't have to do that if you don't want to, you know." Jason said, comforted her.
Aria smiled at him. She knows that he is just worry about her. He is always thinking about her best. "It's not like that. I have to go. Spencer is right. This is the only thing that we know right now."
"But you don't have to go along if you don't want to. There are enough people that will go. They can just go and tell you about what they find." Jason said again, referring to the three friends and their companion that will come along.
Aria nodded in smile. "I know. But it isn't about that. I'm involved in this too. I have to know." Aria said. Jason just sighed, but still holding her hand. Aria smiled at him seductively. "I was just thinking about the camping part. Just for your information, I'm not really an outdoor kind of girl, in case you're planning something for us to do."
Jason laughed and pulled her closer to him so he can whisper closely to her ear. "It is so fortunate that I'm not really an outdoor kind of guy too. The things that I planned to do with you are all an indoor activity." Jason said. "In bed." He added again.
Aria laughed and hit his arm playfully. Jason laughed with her and leaned in forward to give her a kiss. That's when someone comes to them. "In case you don't realize it, this is still a public place until you step into the house." Mike walked to them.
Jason laughs and pulled away from Aria and turned to Mike. "Hey man."
Mike smiles at him and shakes his hand. Jason is really helping Mike a lot through his rough time. So they grew closer like brothers. It definitely helps that he and Aria is an item now. "Good timing you're here, Jason. There is something that I need to talk to you about." Mike looks at Aria. "Can I borrow him for a while?"
Aria turned to Jason and smiles. "Fine. Just don't forget to return him to me." Aria said.
Jason smiles back at her. "Don't you worry about that. I'm tethered to you, so I will always come back to you." Jason said.
Aria is blushed while Mike raised his eyebrows on them. "I swear you two are so obnoxious sometimes." Mike said and walked into the house. Jason and Aria laughs. Jason follows Mike to his room.
"So what are you wanted to talk about?" Jason asked him, as soon as Mike closes the door. Jason sat on the chair in front of the bed, while Mike walked past him and sits on the bed.
Suddenly Mike's expression becomes serious, it makes Jason feels alert. He keeps watching Mike. "My parents make me return all the things that I stole and apologized with them all. But I was forgetting one thing. It is one candle lamp. I know all the things that I stole. It was belongs to Officer Reynolds. I don't want to come to his front door and apologized to him in person. I don't know what happened, but I know that he and Aria doesn't exactly get along. God knows why Aria has a problem with a police officer." Mike didn't realize that Jason rolled his eyes. "So he might not really fond of her brother, who stole his thing. So I sneaked into his home."
Jason widened his eyes. "You sneaked into Garrett's house?"
"I won't get caught. I've been there before, you know." Mike said.
"What happened then?" Jason asked again.
Mike sighed and rubbed his neck. He looks nervous. "I think I'm going crazy." Mike said, quietly. "I couldn't say this to anybody. I don't know who else to tell. My family has been through enough. I don't want to make them more troubled."
Jason locked his eyes on Mike. "Mike, what happened?"
Mike who was keeps locking his eyes on the ground, raised his head and looked at directly to Jason. Jason could see the fear in his eyes. "I see dead people."
Jason watched him and laughed. Mike rolled his eyes on him with an angry expression. Jason also notices it. "You're not kidding?"
Mike sighed. "Unfortunately no."
"Tell me what happen." Jason said.
Mike rubbed his neck again. Jason could see how nervous he is. "I saw your sister." Mike said.
"What?" Jason widened his eyes.
Mike scoffed. "I know. That was impossible, right? Your sister is dead." Mike said, more to himself than to Jason.
Jason moved from his chair to Mike's side. "You see Ali?"
Mike turned to Jason. "I'm making sure that Officer Reynolds is already leaving the house when I sneaked in. I learned about his work schedule. I was planning just to drop the candle lamp and get out of there. Luckily I heard some noise. So I was able to hide behind the couch. Someone is already there when I arrived. She was just about to leave. Your sister walked out from the front door." Mike said. "But that couldn't be your sister, because Alison is dead. So I must be going crazy." Mike said again, covering his face with his hands.
Jason pat Mike's back. "I'm sure there must be some explanation of that." Jason said. Mike let down his hands and looked at Jason again. His eyes asked Jason what could possible explains that situation. "You sneaked into other people's home; you must be not turned on the light. It was dark. Maybe she is just someone that looks like Ali." Mike just silent for a while, absorbing what Jason said. That makes sense. "You aren't crazy." Jason said to him.
Mike sighed. "Thanks." He smiled at Jason. "I'm supposed you were right. It was pretty dark that day. I must have been got the wrong impression of her." Mike said. "But what is she doing in there? And who is she? Why she sneaked into Officer Reynolds' house?"
Jason rubbed his neck. He is the one that looks nervous right now. "Are you able to drop the candle lamp?" Jason asked. Mike nodded confusedly. "Good. You can forget about it then."
"What?" Mike asked.
"It wasn't your business. You don't have to think about that. That candle lamp is dropped off. You don't have think about anything else. Just forget about that like it was never happened." Jason said to him.
Mike knows that what Jason says is make sense. It wasn't any of his business. And he already had enough of problems. "I guess you're right. I should just forget about that." Mike said.
Jason nodded. "That chapter of your life is over. This is the time to move on. You should get a life." Jason smiled at him. "By that, I mean is getting a girl." Mike looked at Jason and laughs. "You should ask that Amanda out on a date."
Mike is still laughing. "We'll see about that." Mike said. Mike is definitely happy that Aria is with Jason now, because Jason is already like a brother than he doesn't had. And Jason actually wants to spend time with Aria's family.
From Mike's room, Jason walked to Aria's room. He knocked at the door but immediately opens the door and peek his head into the room. "Are you decent in there?"
Jason saw Aria is standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her waist. "Of course I'm decent. Why I wouldn't be decent?" Aria frowns.
Jason smiled and stepped into the room, closes the door behind him, and wrapped his arms around Aria. "Because I'm expecting you to be." Jason whispered in her ear.
Aria giggles and turned her head to face him. She leaned forward for a kiss. A kiss that started sweet but deepened. Aria can feel the taste of his mouth, the feel of his lips and tongue against hers, the knee weakening way that he pulled at her lower lips. They shared a smile. Their eyes connecting with each other as Jason guided them to the bed. They are lying on the bed side by side. Aria moved closer to him. Her hand reaching for the back of his neck and her fingers is playing with the back of his hair. Jason's hands tightly wrapped around Aria as he kissed her hard and passionate. They are just making out for a few minutes.
After that, they are just cuddling with each other in silence. Aria lie in Jason's chest as she looked at ceiling while Jason playing in her hair.
"So what is that Mike wanted to talk to you about?" Aria said as she plays with his fingers.
Jason gives her a half grin. "I won't tell you a thing. Don't you ever heard a saying bro's before ho's?"
Aria sat up and watched him. "So I'm a ho now? You are so not getting any." Aria frowns.
Jason immediately raised his hand and pulled Aria back into his embrace. "Who am I kidding? I'm a ho's before bro's kind of guy." Jason said.
Aria laughs. "Then I don't mind being a ho." Aria also said to him. Aria turned to face him and give him a quick peck before lie on Jason's chest again. "Seriously though, is everything's okay with Mike?" Aria is always worrying about Mike since the incident. He is her little brother.
Jason's face also turned serious. "Don't worry. He is fine. There is nothing wrong about him. He is just wanted to talk to me about Amanda." Jason said to her. Aria nodded out of relief.
Aria sat up again and faces Jason. "There is something that I've been meaning to talk to you about. I keep forgetting it."
Jason also sat up with furrow eyebrows. "What is it?"
"I was just thinking about college. You know, it is my senior year and all." Aria said. Jason nodded. "Actually I've been thinking about this even before we were together."
"What you have in mind?" Jason asked.
"English major." Aria said. As soon as she said it, Jason understands what she was trying to say to him.
"So it's Hollis?" Jason asked.
Aria looked at him and nodded. "I have to think about Hollis. That is the best for English major around here." Jason nodded. "When I still with Ezra, I don't really have much choice. He teaches there and he lives here. It is almost impossible for me to choose other college." Aria said again.
Jason narrows his eyes. He understands her. From what she was trying to say, she didn't want to go to Hollis. "Where do you want to go?"
Aria locked her eyes on Jason. "New York."
Jason widened his eyes. "Seriously?" Aria nodded.
Aria shifted away from Jason as she plays with her hair. He knows that Aria is nervous. "I know we haven't really talked about this kind of stuff. We're just getting together. Maybe it is too early for us to talk about the future."
Jason pulled her closer to him. "Hey. It isn't too early. I've said it to you before. I never gonna let you go. So you stuck with me, for now or later in the future." Jason smiles at her. She smiles back as she let out a sigh of relief. "But we do have to talk about this. New York." Jason said.
Aria nodded. "I know it wouldn't be fair to ask you come with me to New York. You're just move back here. You have a life here. So I've been thinking – we're doing so well, you know. I think we aren't gonna have problems even if we're apart. It will be tough, but we can get through it."
Jason shook his head. "I don't have a life apart from you. I know that now." Jason reached for her hand. "We can go to New York together. Starts new." Jason said.
Aria smiles as she took Jason's hand in hers. "Really? You're gonna go to New York with me?"
"I'll go anywhere with you." Jason said again, caressing her hand. Aria smiles a little, but then suddenly her expression changed. "What's wrong?"
Aria shook her head as she sighed. "I was just thinking about the others. How can we leave them to rot in Rosewood with A?" Aria said with a sad expression.
Jason pulled her hand and forces her to look at him. "I think we really should leave this town as far as possible."
"Jason." Aria glared at him. "You know we can't do that. You know now what A is capable of. My family is here. All of our loved one is here." Aria said.
Jason sighed and let go of Aria's hand. "I know." Jason looked at Aria. "It just – I know everything now what you girls had been through this whole time. It is dangerous. This is getting ridiculous, Aria."
Aria reached out for Jason's hand. "I know it is. And I know how dangerous it is. But we don't have another choice. A has been taunting us this whole time. But A has a point. Ian didn't kill Ali. I think we owed it to her to found out the truth. So we can protect everyone that we cared about."
Jason looked at Aria and nodded. He can see that she was determined about this. There is nothing that he says that will change her mind. "I'm sorry that I brought it up. I promise I won't say another word of this." Jason said.
Aria smiled at him. "I know that you're worried about me. You were just trying to protect me." Jason nodded. "Thank you." Aria said and kissed his cheek. "I really am appreciating all the things that you've done for us."
"I'll do anything for you. You know that." Jason said, quietly with a serious face before he pulled Aria into his embrace. Aria hugs him back with a smile in her face. She buried her face on Jason's neck so she couldn't see his worried expression.
Aria pulled away and looked at him. "Do you want to stay for dinner?"
"I'd love to. Maybe I could get back some dignity from your dad in chess." They are only been together for a few days. But Jason always comes for dinner at the Montgomery. Jason isn't just getting closer with Mike. Ella already liked him. And Byron starts to like him too. Before dinner, Aria will help Ella prepared the dinner in the kitchen, while Byron and Jason played chess on the living room. Mike is just watching the two guys and shakes his head. They are already like family.
Jason out his apologetic face, "But I can't." Aria rolled her eyes on him, demanding more answer. "I have counseling." Jason said again.
Aria took a glance at the clock on the wall. "At this hour?" Aria asked.
Jason shrugged. "He can only make it at this time."
"At least I know that he is a he." Aria said with a teasing smile.
Jason laughs. "And that is the most detail information that you can get. You know that this is supposed to be anonymous."
"Fine." Aria pretends to pout.
Jason smiles and pats her head softly before he sat up from the bed. "So I'm gonna get going. I'll call you later?"
Aria nodded and summoned him to give her a kiss. She giggles before Jason leaned down to kiss her lightly. "I love you." Aria said before Jason walked out from the room.
"And I love you too." Jason said back and walked out from the room. Aria is just staring at the door for a while. She can't shake the feelings that Jason is hiding something from her. And the statement that he made earlier of them to get out form Rosewood is just confirm her suspicious. She doesn't want to pry more of this. Honestly, she was afraid what she is going to find.
She was just about to walk out from her room when she heard that her parents are home when she notice Jason's phone on her bed. It must be slipped from his pocked when they were cuddling. She took the phone and put it on her jeans pocket.
Aria stopped at Jason's front door and knocked. Jason opened the door after her second knocks. "Aria!" Jason looks so surprise to see her there, standing in front of him. "What are you doing here?"
Aria likes that she surprise him. "Why? You don't happy to see me?" Aria said, teasingly.
Jason smiles nervously. "No! Of course I am." Jason leaned in to give her a quick peck. They always do that when they meet each other. "This is just – a nice surprise. That's all." Jason try to smile at her, but Aria still feel that he is a little tense. But she ignores the feeling.
"Spencer's parents are supposed to come home today. But Melisa had a little incident." Aria explained. "She fell down the stairs." Jason widened his eyes. "Nothing serious. She is just sprained her ankle." Aria quickly added.
"Thank God." Jason said.
"But the Hastings is still worried to leave her alone so they spend another night." Aria said again. Jason nodded. "We all decide that it is too dangerous for Spencer to spend the night by herself, so we're having another sleepover."
"I think that is a good idea." Jason said. Actually he feels more comfortable if the girls are having sleepover, because it is mean that they are together and they can look out for each other.
Aria nodded. "I just stopped by to return your phone." Aria took out Jason's phone from her jeans pocket and handed out to Jason.
Jason takes his phone from Aria. "I've been looking for this everywhere."
"I think it slipped out from your pocket when we're in bed." Aria said, teasingly.
Jason grinned. "Good times." But his expression is hurried changed. "Maybe you should hurry over to Spencer's house. The others will be worried if you're late."
Aria stepped closer to Jason. "I'm sure they know where I am if I'm late." Aria said, seductively. Aria is just about to lean in for another kiss when she heard a voice.
"Jason, do you mind if I used your hair brush?" Aria looked at the stairs that located in front of the door, so she has full view at the girl that standing on the stairs. Her hair is wet and just wearing Jason's shirt. She locked eyes with Aria. "I'm so sorry." She said.
Jason turned his head on her and back to Aria who looks so angry and hurt. He knows how bad this must be looked at the moment. Aria glared at him and stepped out angry from him. "Aria!" Jason immediately chased after her. Aria walked to Spencer's house and ignores him. Jason ran to her and grabs her arm. "This is nothing like it seems." Jason tries to explain.
Aria snapped out her hand free from Jason and turned to face him. Jason can see how mad she is right now. "Really? Because it is so hard for me to think otherwise right now, Jason. She is wearing your shirt!"
"There is nothing between us, Aria. Trust me!" Jason said, locked his eyes to Aria's. "I will never do anything to hurt you."
Aria's expression turned more softly. "Then tell me what's going on? Don't you think that I don't notice your strange behavior? You've been kind of distant lately. There is something in your mind that you're not telling me about." Aria stepped closer to Jason. "Look, Jason. I want to trust you. I really am. But you have to give me something here. Make me understand."
Jason shook his head. "I can't. Not now.' Aria sighed of disappointment. "I can only say that Megan is helping me with something. And it is nothing like what you're thinking. I would never cheat on you." Jason states.
Aria shook her head. "You have to give me something, Jason. How can you expect me to trust you when you don't even tell me what's going on? She was half naked in your house. It is so hard for me to believe you right now."
Jason looked at Aria. "Everyone can to not believe in me, but you can't!" Jason states. "When they all didn't believe in me, you're the only one that did. And that is enough for me. Don't stop now." Jason reached for Aria's hand. "Because of you, my life is complete. I love you, Aria. I always have and I always will. I can't tell you what's going on right now. But I'm not doing things that guilty to you. You have to trust me."
Aria is just silent for a while and watched him. She pulled her hand from him. "Trust is something that you have to earn, Jason. And right now, you aren't doing anything to earn it." Jason's face fell down as he looked Aria turned around and walked to Spencer's.
"Aria!" Jason isn't just gonna give up. "Aria!" But Aria ignores him and keeps walking to Spencer's. Jason is just standing there for a while and watched Aria's shadow disappearing into Spencer's house. He thinks about the event earlier that day.
*FLASHBACK*
He is just dropped the key on the kitchen table after he went home from Aria's house. Thank God he went home at the right time, because it is raining outside at this moment. He searched through his pocket for his phone, but he didn't found it anywhere. And he can't remember where he left it. But he needed it now to call somebody. So he is walking to the home phone. He is just about to dial some numbers when he heard knock from the door. He put down the phone and walked to the door.
He opened the door to his school mate form high school, Megan Lawson. She is wet because of the rain. "Megan! You're wet."
Megan smiled at him. "I picked the right day to forget my umbrella at home."
Jason laughs. That's when the dog that Megan brings barks at him. Jason smiles at the dog. "And who is this?"
Megan reached down to her also wet dog. "This is Larry."
Jason kneeled down to the dog. "Hi, Larry." Larry jumped on Jason and licked his face. Jason patted down its head. "Good boy." Just after he said that, Larry shaking water offs its body to Jason, so he is also getting wet.
"Larry!" Megan shouted at her dog. "Sit!" Larry listened to her command and sit. "I'm so sorry," She said to Jason.
Jason smiles at her. "I guess we're even now. We're all wet." Megan smiles back at him. Jason stepped aside to let Megan in. "Come on in. I'll get you a towel and a clean shirt." Megan nodded and walked into the house. Jason closed the door behind him. "Thank you for coming on short notice, Meg."
"I'm happy to. It's not a big deal. I'm involved in this too in case you're forget." Megan said.
Jason looked at her with a serious expression. "I don't mean it like that, Meg. Like I always said, that is not your fault." Megan nodded in smiles. "It just – you're one of a few people that really know our family. I don't know who else that can help me."
"Jason, I'll do anything that I can to help." Megan said.
"Thanks." Jason smiled. "I'll get you that clean towel." Jason gets some clean towel and get back to Megan. He handed out the towel to her.
"Thanks."
"And this is Ali's shirt. You could change into it while we dried your shirt." Jason handed out a pink shirt to Megan.
But Megan looks so uncomfortable and didn't accept the shirt. "Actually, I don't mind to wearing yours if that's okay with you." Jason looked at her. "It just – Ali's shirt and stuff –"
Megan doesn't have to continued, Jason nodded. "I understand. I will get you one of mine."
*END OF FLASHBACK*
Jason sighed one more time while watching Spencer's house. He knows that there is nothing that he could do at this moment. He should give Aria some space. He walked back to his house. Megan is sitting on the stairwell, waiting for him.
"Girlfriend?" Megan asked. Jason nodded in sighed. Megan watched his expression and can figures out what happened earlier. "I take it that it doesn't go well?" Jason glared at her for even asked. "You should've told her about this. I'm sure she'll understand."
Jason shook his head. "I can't." Jason turned to her. "Her name is Aria Montgomery. She was one of Ali's best friends."
"Oh." Megan nodded.
"You know why I can't tell her about any of this." Jason said.
Megan sighed at sat up. "Maybe it is the time for the secret to come out, Jason." Megan said. "There is no secret that can be kept forever."
Jason stared at him with a firm looks. "She is dead, Meg. Ali is dead. The only thing that we can do at this moment is honor her memory. Ali wouldn't be happy if her friends found out about the secret that she tried to bury so hard. She is my sister."
"She isn't the only one." Megan said. Jason glared at her. "I'm just sayin' –" Megan shrugged. Jason sighed. This isn't the road that he wants to walk through, but he doesn't have another choice at the moment.
to be continued...